JC pounded on the door and prayed Anna would answer. But all the lights were out, and when he peered through the window, he could see that most of Anna's belongings were gone.

        He sighed out of frustration and pounded one more time on the door before getting back in his car and driving away.

        He kept on driving until he reached Elizabeth and Justin's apartment. If anyone would know where Anna was, it would be Elizabeth. No one answered after a few knocks so JC turned to leave.

        “Hold on! I'll be right there.”
 
        When he heard Anna's soft voice echoing through the door, he lost his breath. And almost his footing.

        He grabbed a hold of the door handle and looked, waiting for her to open the door. Once she saw his face, he knew she would try to run. He had his arms ready to grab her so she couldn't escape.

        Anna opened up the door in her robe. Elizabeth and Justin had gone out a few hours earlier, and she had been offered to stay the night since her new place wouldn't be ready for her till next week.

        When she saw JC standing there, his head wet from the rain earlier, and his tear stained face, Anna got on him and pulled him inside before he had a chance to argue.
 
        “Why are you outside? It's pouring outside!”

         When JC just smiled, Anna helped me take off his jacket. “What a stupid thing to do!” She took his coat and hung it up to dry, then came back into the living room. “If you're looking for Justin, he's not here.”

         Her tone had changed. She was talking like she didn't even know him; but not that he blamed her. There was hurt and anger in her voice that made JC step back.

        “I'm not looking for Justin,” he said quietly. “I was looking for you.”
 
        “If you want the signed papers…” she said, referring to the divorce papers she had torn up and throw in the garbage earlier.

        “I'm not here about those,” he said. “You can throw those out for all I care. In fact, I want you to toss them out. Forget I ever sent them to you.”
 
        She looked more stunned than she felt. What was he trying to do to her head?

        “Wait...what are you trying to tell me? You don't want me to sign the papers?” When he nodded, she asked, “then why did you send them in the first place?”
 
        “I don't know,” JC admitted. “Just please, tell me you didn't send them yet. Please tell me I still have a chance.”
 
        She held her breath. “Have a chance for what?”
 
        “To win you back.”
 
        That wasn't what she was expecting to hear. She had been expecting him to tell her that he needed the divorce right away cause he was planning to marry Amy. She was not only relieved, but a little suspicious.

        “Why would you want me when you have that.....that....other girl,” she said, trying to sound nice. To be honest, when she found out about Amy, she wanted to find this girl and strangle her for taking away her man.
 
        “I don't want her. I never wanted her. I only want you.”
 
        The deep admiration in his eyes was enough to make her dizzy. “You were with her when I needed you! You cheated on me, JC! You slept with another woman!”
 
        Actually, he had never actually slept with Amy. They had just shared a few passionate kisses. Really passionate kisses. But he had never gotten in bed with Amy. How could he have when he was still so in love with Anna?
 
        “I never slept with her,” JC said quietly. He looked deep into her eyes and still saw the love that shone through as they did before this whole mess started.

        “Why should I believe you?”
 
        JC took a step towards her and grasped both her hands in his. “Because you know me. Anna, you know I would never sleep with another woman. Yes, I did kiss her. Yes, I did go out with her. But I was fooling myself. I was so scared that I was losing you that I turned to someone else. It was stupid. Probably the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life. I didn't want to lose you, baby. I thought I already had.”
 
        Anna sat down on the couch and ran a hand through her hair. “When I got your note---” She struggled not to cry. “I had just talked to the doctor. He said I was free of the disease. All I had to do was take a pill once everyday and I would be fine.” She looked up into his eyes. She still saw all the love he had for her. Maybe everything he was saying was true. “Then I read the note...I was devestated. I felt like dying. I thought that you loved me. I never dreamed you would leave me for another woman.”
 
        JC kneeled in front of her and grasped her hands again. “I was a foolish guy for even thinking that I could ever love anyone as much as I love you.”
 
        “You're just saying that.”
 
        “No, I mean it,” he said. “Have I ever lied to you before?” When she shook her head, he continued. “I'm telling the truth when I say that if I could take it all back, I would. I would of gone back to your room and been there to help you through this, other than going to that stupid club and getting drunk.”
 
        Anna was surprised; JC get drunk? Never. Not in a million years.

        “You drank because the doctor's told you that I might not make it?”
 
        He nodded. “I was so scared. I didn't want to lose you. If I lost you, what would I have done? I'm lost without you.”
 
        She ran her hand lightly across his cheek, her hand then landing on his knee.

        “Are you asking me to forgive you?” She knew the answer already because it was in his eyes. He wanted to start again and she was willing to give it a try because she loved him. And she needed him as much as he needed her.

        “I'm asking you to take me back and give us another chance. I promise this time it's going to work,” he promised. “This time I won't run away when we run into a problem. But that's only if you'll be willing to forgive me.”
 
        “You came here even though you knew there was a possibility that I might throw you out,” Anna said. “You took a chance because you wanted to make things right. I don't think I could have done that. You took a big step by coming here and telling me the truth. And to be honest, I've been totally lost without you, too. I was starting to hope that you would come around and confess that I'm the only one for you.” She laughed a little, choking on the sob at the back of her throat. “And now that it's happening, it all feels so real. I want to go back to our house and start our lives together. This time, if you're feeling upset about something, I want you to come to me and talk to me about it, okay? I'm always here...even if it involves me, I want you to come to me and talk to me. I love you, and together we can get through anything.”
 
        JC nodded and pulled her into his arms.

        When she laid her head on his shoulder, he whispered, “I love you so much,” then kissed her deeply. “So much.”

         Neither said a word for a while. They just laid there in each other's arms until Anna took his hand and led him outside so they could go home.

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